Ann W. Smith, MS, LPC, LMFT
Executive Director, Breakthrough at Caron

Ann Smith is the Executive Director of Breakthrough at Caron, a five and a half day residential group therapy program designed to help adults shift destructive life patterns, improve relationships and foster personal growth. For nearly 30 years, her focus has been on addiction, family systems and experiential therapy. 

Ann is best known for developing innovative residential treatment programs for adults from painful families. She returned to Caron in January of 2009 with her patented Breakthrough program. A pioneer of codependency treatment, she was instrumental in designing and directing the original five-day program for Adult Children of Alcoholics from 1984 to 1991 at Caron, which reached more than 14,000 people.

Ann is renowned for her clear and entertaining teaching style delivering valuable information on a variety of personal growth topics. For more than 25 years, she has lectured and taught workshops on topics ranging from addiction in the family to dysfunctional relationships.

Ann has a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and is licensed as both a Professional Counselor and a Marriage and Family Therapist in Pennsylvania.  She is the author of two books titled Grandchildren of Alcoholics: Another Generation of Co-dependency and Overcoming Perfectionism: The Key to a Balanced Recovery.